Hi Adam,
You will get plenty of info about electric, hybrid and diesel/ electric drives from others on this board, but I would like to present some other considerations. While cost is often a primary concern when choosing a drive system, as a multihuller, I have learned that weight should also be a big concern in non-ballasted boats.
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss ICE outboards. The 40' racing catamaran that I crew on has two 20hp outboards and these motors will drive the boat from Ensenada to Los Angeles (125nm) in less than 24 hours, against current, seas and weather. A similar setup would cost around $5000 US, weigh around 150kg including fuel tanks and starter batteries, and install in a day. It looks like your boat design calls for a single, larger outboard mounted centrally which may be cheaper and lighter than the dual outboard option, however, dual motors provide built in redundancy which is good offshore.
In my opinion, the dual outboards will be cheaper, lighter, simpler, safer, more powerful, readily available and easy to find others to work on them. Electric drives are considered quieter and cleaner, but the deisel/electric setup that you suggest reduces both of those advantages.
You may have additional attributes that you are using to make your choice, but I suggest that you examine your priorities and evaluate all your options objectively. It all boils down to this, it's your boat and your choice, choose well.
Fair winds,
Eric
1990 F-27 "Witchcraft"
1964 Cheoy Lee Bermuda 30 "Serenity"
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "nzsilvia" <nzsilvia@...> wrote:
>
> hi everyone, im new to the forum.
>
> i live in new zealand and i am about to start building a 35' sailing catamaran.
>
> http://www.wallerdesign.com.au/cs35.html
>
> simple deep v hulls 3600kg(8000lbs) displacement.
>
> the boat is designed for petrol outboards but i am really not keen on this idea have been in contact with the designer who says due to the deep v hulls twin diesel installation would not be ideal. he reccomended somehow using a single centrally mounted diesel powering 2 smaller drives. this led me to consider diesel-electric propulsion....
> where i get most confused is it the many possible ways of doing things.. i am on a budget and do not want to spend more $ than i have to....
> any help would be greatly appreciated! im keen to learn alot about it
> thanks
> adam.
>
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